Customers gasped as officers made several attempts to yank the coyote out of the shelf, finally pulling the animal out by its tail.

Coyote sightings and interactions in Chicago are increasing as the breeding season, lasting from January to March, gets underway.

A coyote that was pulled out of the refrigerated section of an Aldi in Chicago yesterday will be returned to the wild, officials said. The wild animal was “likely seeking refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life,” slipped into the store via an open door and then hid behind the cheeses and deli meats to avoid the people in the store.

SUPPLY, NC (WWAY) — You may see more coyotes out this time of year. Well, that is because coyote mating season is roughly from January to March. During coyote mating season, the males tend to roam more looking for mates. When females are pregnant, they look for a place to burrow. Once they have the pups, they become more protective.

"A coyote walks into an ALDI"sounds a lot like the start of a cheesy dad joke, but that's exactly what happened in a Chicago, Illinois ALDI store this week. And lucky for us, the mayhem was caught on camera.

Animal appeared uninjured and will be assessed before being released back into the wild if that is deemed appropriate.

The County Commission said Florida has too many coyotes, and wants to see a change in state policies regarding controlling the population.

This time of year, it is important to take some precaution. It is rare that a human will be attacked by a coyote, but your pets could be in danger if left unattended. Especially if you have smaller pets. Jonathan Sparks has plenty of experience with coyotes and spoke with us about things to remember.

When walking your dog, keep it on a leash, avoid walking at night and do not leave your pet unattended outside. If you encounter a coyote close, make large movements and loud noises to deter the animal. Remember to treat local wildlife with respect. If the encounter persists, get to a safe place and contact your local DEC Office.

The United Airlines aircraft was carrying 167 passengers when it struck a coyote on Sunday, Jan. 12 in Chicago, the airline confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement

In a press release issued this week, Dallas Animal Services (DAS) reminded communities to stay vigilant amid coyote mating season.